NEW YORK: The five hundred and forty-third entry for the seniors housing Global Awards for 2015 has been received.
The German-developed standard, which relies on heavy insulation, airtight fixtures and efficient ventilation systems to cut energy use, is most often used for houses custom-built for people who can afford the extra up-front expense.
But the largest passive-house apartment building in North America officially opened Monday at Hillsboro’s Orenco Station, and it’s not a showpiece for wealthy residents. Instead, it’s for some of the region’s poorest households, making less than half of the median family income. Rents are $611 to $733 a month.
Reach Community Development, a Portland-based nonprofit, recently completed the first of three phases at its Orchards at Orenco development.
